Tape applicator with auxiliary snubber tongue



Dec. 27, 1955 c. w. VOGT 2,728,476

TAPE APPLICATOR WITH AUXILIARY SNUBBER TONGUE Filed July 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENI'OR. CLARENCE W VOGT A 7'7'ORNEY5.

Dec. 27, 1955 c. w. VOGT 2,728,476

TAPE APPLICATOR WITH AUXILIARY SNUBBER TONGUE Filed July 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Cum-05 W VOGT AT TORNEYS.

United States Patent" TAPE APPLICATOR WITH AUXILIARY SNUBBER TONGUE Clarence W. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn. 7

Application July 9, 1953, Serial No. 366,958

20 Claims. (Cl. 216-21) This invention relates to devices for dispensing and/or applying tape material and particularly adhesive tape material in roll form. More particularly, the invention relates to devices of the type described in my copending application Serial No. 353,339, filed May 6, 1953, for Tape Applicator With Cutter Snap Release, wherein there is provided a device for applying adhesive tape in roll form and by means of which adhesive tape of the pressure-sensitive type may be applied to a desired surface from a roll of tape material and effectively severed from the roll after a desired length has been applied.

In accordance with this invention, it is an object to provide a device of the above character wherein the roll of tape material may be held effectively against escape from the device regardless of the manner in which the tape is being removed from the roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism by means of which'the tape may be cut or severed when and as desired.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means by which a tape dispensing and applying mechanism may utilize a container in which tape material is carried as an integral part of the device.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section, taken in a plane passing longitudinally through a tape applier and dispenser constructed in accordancewith the present invention (the position of the devicein this figure is the normal position of rest);

Fig. 2 is a partial view in section, taken'on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. libut showing the device in the position it assumes when applying tape to a desired surface;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in section, taken on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. l but illustrating the position assumed by the device at the time it is about to sever the tape;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tape applying tongue illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation showing the front end of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a partial view showing a roll of tape house within a container adapted to be utilized in connection with a tape applying device such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7; w

Fig. 9 is a view in transverse section, taken on the broken line 99 of Fig. 8, and looking the direction of the arrows; and

Fig; 10 isa view similar to Fig. 1 showing the conand looking in the 'ice 1 to 7, a tape dispensing and applying mechanism is illustrated as being formed of a body member indicated generally at 11 and having side walls 12 and 13. The walls are spaced apart by means of a front plate 14 and a rear plate 15, the rear plate 15 having formed therewith a supporting plate 16 against which a roll of adhesive tape or the like 17 may rest. The roll, it will be observed, is received between the side walls 12 and 13 and is properly located upon the supporting plate 16 by means of side guide bosses 18 that are formed upon the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 and 13 and which project inwardly therefrom sufficiently to center the roll of tape properly in the position shown in Fig. 1. v

Adjacent the intermediate portions of the side walls 12 and 13, inwardly extending bosses 19 and 20 are formed, these bosses being spaced from co-operating bosses 21 and 22, respectively. The respective bosses 21 and 22 are provided with angularly extending positioning bosses23 and 24 as Well as with supplementary positioning bosses 25 and 26 (shown particularly in Fig. 2).

From the foregoing, it will be observed that a groove 27 is formed between bosses 19 and 21 while a groove 28 is formed between bosses 20 and 22. Locating beads 27 and 28 are formed in the respective grooves 27 and 28. A tape applying pressure tongue 29 (Fig. 6) is provided with laterally extending flanges 30 and 31 which are adapted to be received within the respective grooves 27 and 28 and, if desired, secured therein by means of a suitable cement. Alternatively, recesses 30 and 31 are formed in the respective flanges 30 and 31 to engage the respective beads 27' and 28 in order that the tongue may be located in its assembled position. It will be understood, of course, that the side plates 12 and 13 have suflicient flexibility to permit the flanges 30 and 31 to be snapped into the desired assembled position. The material of the tongue 29 is flexible and its formation is such that, when the flanges 30 and 31 are secured within the grooves 27 and 28, the tongue is urged outwardly and downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The inner end of the tongue 29 (right-hand portion as viewed in the drawings) is formed with a rounded boss 32 in order to facilitate the sliding of the free end 33 of the tape thereover as the tape is withdrawn from the roll. In this connection, the supplementary positioning bosses 25 and 26 are adapted to receive the roll of tape 17 as illustrated inFig. l and the roll is, in this fashion, cente'red between the sides of the bosses 23 and 24. These last-mentioned bosses additionally serve to support and center a receptacle within which tape may be maintained if such receptacle is to be used in connection with the holder 11, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Adjacent the bottom edges of the side walls 12 and 13 are provided inwardly extending snubbing ears 34 over which the free end of the tape 33 is adapted to pass to form the 'tail 35 which constitutes the extremity of the free end of the tape. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the tongue 29 is normally urged against the cars 34 and thus the tail 35 is deflected downwardly to maintain the adhesive side (the lower side) of the tape in such position that it may be readily-applied to a desired surface, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and yet it may be somewhat protected against accidental contact with contaminating bodies. To facilitate thisdeflection of the tape, the tongue 29 is formed with offset snubbing shoulders 36 which normally lie adjacent the ears 34 but outwardly thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, and beyond the shoulders 36 the tongue is'provided with' a pressuresurface 37 by means of whichthe'tape is pressed against a desired surface such as 38 (Fig. 3) during application of the tape thereto.

Outwardly of the pressure surface 37, the tongue provided with a cutting edge ,39 which may be in the form of a metallic plate member 40, this member being received within an enlarged head 41 on the tongue. The head extends laterally to form lateral projections 43 which are adapted to snap over inwardly extending projections 44 formed on the adjacent portions of the side walls 12 and =13. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the position of these inter-engaging projections during the operation of apply ing tape to the surface 38, and it will be seen that, in such position, the cutting member cannot cut the tape nor can it disturb any other surface adjacent to the tape such as the surface 38. Stop lugs 45 limit the motion of the head 41 inwardly and thus protect the tongue 29 from excessive bending. Guard ears 43' are formed on the lateral projections 43 to prevent the cutter blade from contacting the tape when applying it to a flat surface.

The front piate 14 is provided with a. downwardly "extending flexible plate 46 having an inwardly projecting pusher plate 47, at the inner extremity of which there is formed an auxiliary pusher plate 47. The end of the plate 47 is adapted to engage the enlarged head 41 on the end of the tongue 29 and free it from the projections 44, as illustrated in Fig. 5. When the projections 43 and 44 have thus become disengaged, the flexibility of the tongue 29 causes the tongue to spring outwardly and to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, thus causing the cutting edge 39 to strike the tape and sever it etfectively. In order to prevent excessive flexing of the plate 46 inwardly, stop lugs 48 are provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 and 13. The pusher plate 47 is also provided with a tape guard 47" which prevents the cutting edge 39 from engaging the tape except when it is desired to cut it. Also the guard 47" prevents the cutter blade from engaging the tape if the surface upon which it is being applied is convex.

An important aspect of this invention is the provision of an auxiliary or supplementary pressure tongue 49 within the tongue 29. An intermediate portion 50 of the supplementary tongue 49 lies adjacent the snubber lugs 34 and, when the tongue 29 is maintained in the tape apply ing position illustrated in Fig. 3, at which time the projections .3 and as engage as illustrated in Fig. 4, the auxiliary tongue 49 extends downwardly and out of the plane of the tongue 29 in order to cause the tape to engage the snubber ears or lugs 34. In Fig. 3, the position of the auxiliary tongue 49 is illustrated in solid lines as being the position that the tongue assumes when tape is not being drawn over the pressure surface 37. The dot and dash position illustrated in Fig. 3 is the position that the auxiliary tongue assumes while the tape is being drawn over such surface and is being applied to the surface 38. In this condition, there is a certain tension in the span of tape from the rounded head 32 to the pressure surface 37 and the tension is just suflicient to lift the mixiliary tongue into the dot and dash position illustrated in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that the auxiliary tongue 49 serves effectively to prevent accidental removal of the tape roll from the applier during such time as the tongue 29 is held in the latched position illustrated in Fig. 3. For example, while the tongue 29 is in its latched position, it may be desired to withdraw a length of tape from the holder for hand application to a desired surface. If that is done, there would be danger of the roll of tape falling out of the holder if the dispensed section of tape has been cut from the remaining portion on the roll, and the auxiliary tongue 49 serves effectively to prevent such occurrence.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of an extension 50' on the auxiliary tongue 49 forwardly of the intermediate portion 50. As will be seen in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, this extension lies above the pressure surface 37 on the tongue 29, and its outer end lies adjacent the extremity of the auxiliary pusher plate 47'. In order to insure that the intermediate portion .50 of the auxiliary tongue 49 presses the tape against the snubber lugs 34, the auxiliary pusher plate 47' engages the extremity of the extension 50' upon initial deflection of the front plate 46 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the position --of the front plate 46, as shown in solid lines, is that which is assumed when the applier is not moving and the intermediate portion 50 of tongue portion 49 has snubbed the tape against the snubber lugs 34. The dot and dash line position indicates the position assumed by the front plate 46 when the applier is moving and tape is being applied, at which time the intermediate portion '50 has been drawn away from snubber lugs 34 so that the tape is free-running. Subsequent inward movement of the front plate 46 disengages the projections 43 and 44 and, as will be seen in Fig. 5, causes subsequent severance of the tape. The tongues 29 and 49 may be made of any resilient material such as spring steel or the like or plastic or the like and, moreover, the tongues may be of one piece or may be made separately.

As will be seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the foregoing mechaserves to anchor the tape effectively at the snubber cars 5% and a point '46" (Fig. 5) where the lower extrcmity of the flexible plate 46 engages the tape on the surface in. this fashion, the tape is effectively anchorcd to permit the cutting mechanism to operate effectively. Regardless of the nature of the adhesive coating on the tape, and Whether or not such coating is tacky, the tape is effectively severed and the roll is maintained in the tape holder at all times. Moreover, it will be observed that the auxiliary tongue 43 is normally lifted from the cars 34 while the tape is being applied to the surface 38, thus facilitating the operation of applying the tape to desired surfaces.

in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and it), a container 51 is illustrated as holding the roll of tape 17. In the peripheral wall of the container, an opening 52 is provided through which the end of the tape is adapted to be drawn as it is removed from the roll. Upon either side of the opening 52, flexible projections 53 and 54 are provided, these projections being provided with the respective projections '55 and 56. As will be seen in Fig. 10, the projection 55 is adapted to engage the undersur-faces of the lugs 25 and 26 while the projections 56 are adapted to engage beneath the lower extremity of the supporting wall or plate 16. in such position, the container 51 is locked to the holder 1%) and serves as an integral part thereof. Although it. is not essential, the thickness or the width of the container 51 adjacent the projections 53 and 54 may be somewhat shallower than the upper portion in order to be received between the lugs 18, these lugs being designed to receive the roll 17 therebetween in order to guide and properly position the roll. The shallower portion of the container thus permits formation of the lugs 18 in such fashion as more effectively to guide or position both the container and the roll to permit the holder to be used interchangeably for rolls and containers.

I claim:

. 1. Means for dispensing and applying tape material comprising a body having at least one side support upon which a roll of tape material is adapted to be received, a main flexible tongue mounted on the side support, a pressure surface on the outer end of the tongue adapted to press the tape upon a desired surface, a snubber'element on the body and adapted to be engaged by the tongue, and an auxiliary flexible tongue mounted on said side support and extending lengthwise of said main tongue and adapted normally to engage the snubber element.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein ,means is provided on the body to engage the auxiliary tongue and force it against the snubber element.

3. A device according to claim 1 comprising a cutting element adjacent the outer end of said main tongue, at pusher element on the body to engage the auxiliary tongue and force it-against the snubber element, and a guard on thepusher element overlying said cutting element "during dispensing of tape from the tape roll to prevent contact of the tape with the cutting element.

4. A device according to claim 1 comprising interengaging projections on the main flexible tongue and body, and means on the body responsive to pressure thereon to engage the main tongue and disengage the projections.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the tongue engaging means also engages the auxiliary tongue to force it against the snubber element.

6. A device according to claim 1 comprising inter- 1 engaging projections on the main flexible tongue and body, means on the body to engage the main tongue and disengage the projections, a cutting element on the outer end of the main tongue, and a guard on the means to engage the main tongue overlying the cutting element while tape is being dispensed to prevent the tape from engaging the cutting element.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the means to engage the main tongue comprises means to engage the auxiliary tongue to force it against the snubber element.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the side support comprises side walls that are formed with positioning lugs to engage tape material to be used therewith.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the side support comprises side walls that are provided with lugs between which the main tongue is secured.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the side support comprises side walls that are provided with lugs between which the main tongue is secured and additional lugs adjacent the last-named lugs to locate and position rolls of tape material.

11. Means for dispensing and applying tape material comprising a body having side walls between which a roll of tape material is adapted to be received, a flexible tongue mounted between the side walls, a pressure surface on the outer end of the tongue adapted to press onto a desired surface, a snubber element on the body and adapted to be engaged by the tongue, projections on the tongue, inwardly extending projections on the side walls adapted to be engaged by the projections on the tongue, and means on the body to engage the tongue and cause the projections to be disengaged.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the lastnamed means is adapted to engage the end of the tongue outwardly of the pressure surface.

13. A device according to claim 11 wherein the lastnamed means comprises a flexible downwardly extending plate having an inwardly projecting extension adapted to engage the end of the tongue outwardly of the pressure surface.

14. A device according to claim 11 wherein an auxiliary yielding tongue is provided with the first tongue and adapted to engage the snubber element.

15. A device according to claim 11 wherein an auxiliary yielding tongue is provided with the first tongue and adapted to engage the snubber element, and means is provided on the body to engage the auxiliary tongue to move it into engagement with the snubber element.

16. A device according to claim 11 wherein an auxiliary yielding tongue is provided with the first tongue and adapted to engage the snubber element, and wherein the means on the body to engage the first tongue includes means to engage the auxiliary tongue and move it into engagement with the snubber element prior to disengagement of the projections on the first tongue.

17. A container for rolls of adhesive tape comprising a relatively flat generally circular container having an aperture in its periphery through which tape is withdrawn and arms spaced on opposite sides of the aperture and extending substantially radially from the periphery of said container, said arms having projections adjacent to their ends to engage a tape applying device.

18. A container according to claim 17 wherein the arms are connected to the periphery of the container.

19. In combination, a tape applying device having side walls, a pressure tongue secured between the side walls for applying adhesive tape to a desired surface, lugs on said side walls and extending inwardly therefrom, a container for a roll of adhesive tape comprising a relatively fiat generally circular container formed with an aperture in its periphery, and a pair of substantially radial arms on the periphery of said container detachably engageable with said lugs to hold said container between said side walls.

20. Means for dispensing and applying tape material comprising a body having at least one side support upon which a roll of tape material is adapted to be received, a main flexible tongue mounted on the side support, a pressure surface on the outer end of the tongue adapted to press the tape upon a desired surface, a snubber element on the body and adapted to be engaged by the tongue, and an auxiliary flexible tongue formed on the main tongue adapted normally to engage the snubber element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,240 Tyler June 19, 1917 2,404,317 Salfisberg July 16, 1946 2,452,584 Luebkeman Nov. 2, 1948 2,560,241 Pangburn et al. July 10, 1951 

